Dean Ryan Cup – John the Baptist CS v St. Flannans

Dean Ryan Cup Under 16.5 A Hurling Quarter-Final

John the Baptist Community School Hospital 5-20 St. Flannans 2-10

Click here to view photos from the game

John the Baptist Community School Hospital became the first school to qualify for the 2016 Dean Ryan Cup Under 16.5 A Hurling Semi-Finals by virtue of a comprehensive 19 point victory over St. Flannans on Tuesday afternoon.

Played in calm, overcast conditions on a resplendent St. Patricks GAA club pitch, the scene was set for a competitive game of hurling. And so it proved in the opening stages as the teams tore in to the fray from the off. With both sets of forwards on song in the first quarter, scores were plentiful and those in attendance were treated to 10 scores in the opening 10 minutes with the Hospital side edging in front by 0-6 to 0-4.

St. Flannans took the lead in the 12th minute when the impressive Darren O’Brien hit an unstoppable shot to the roof of the net following a long solo run. The response from the Hospital side was immediate, scoring 3 points in a 2 minute spell to regain the lead. Aided by the accurate free talking of Ashley Brohan, St. Flannans kept in touch and the scores were level after 22 minutes, John the Baptist Community School Hospital 0-9 St. Flannans 1-6.

The turning point arrived in the 24th minute when Conor Burke’s ground shot just creeped over the line to put Hospital up by 3 points. The Limerick side would add the last three points of the half and by the interval, Hospital had a six point lead, 1-12 to 1-6.

The second half was less than a minute old when John the Baptist Community School Hospital increased their lead to 10 points. A quick point from play was followed by a green flag as Conor Burke set up Oisin O’Grady who finished with some aplomb. To their credit, St. Flannans responded almost immediately with 1-1 of their own, the goal coming from Darren O’Brien and the deficit was reduced back to 6 points, as it was at half-time.

This mini revival for the Clare College proved no more than a consolation as it turned out with the Hospital side now taking over in all sectors. Conor Burke once again rattled the Flannans net in the 38th minute and by the end of the third quarter, Hospital led by all of 12 points – 3-17 to 2-8. To add insult to injury, the Limerick side would add on another two goals before the finish. Firstly, lively centre-forward Ryan Tobin capped off a dominant display when he caught his own puckout, soloed through and finished in style to the Flannans net. A minute later, Conor Burke got his hat-trick when he rounded off a good move in the Hospital attack with a goal.

This game was over as a content long before the finish and when referee Jim Lees brought a halt to proceedings, John the Baptist Community School Hospital were 5-20 to 2-10 winners. Conor Burke (3-0) and Ryan Tobin (1-4) were impressive for the Limerick side but the best hurler on view was the Hospital midfielder Dylan O’Shea, scorer of 0-10, 3 points from play in a dominant display. Darren O’Brien was St. Flannan’s best player accounting for 2-2 from play in a side which ultimately had to give second best to an impressive Hospital team.

John the Baptist Community School Hospital: Jack Franklin; Tyrique McNamara, Kyran O’Donnell, Micheal Martin; Patrick Lloyd, Brian O’Grady, Eoin O’Mahony (0-3); Dylan O’Shea (0-10, 0-7 frees), Bryan Heavey; Conor Burke (3-0), Ryan Tobin (1-4), Bradley McNamara; Oisin O’Grady (1-1), Dean Heffernan (0-2), Gerard Donworth

St. Flannans: Conor McDaid; Gearoid Collins, Kevin Keane, Jack Lyons; Eoin Wallace, Darragh Healy, Sean Danagher; Liam Halpin, Padraig Gerathy; John Finucane (0-1), Fergus Garvey, Ashley Brohan (0-6 frees); Darren O’Brien (2-2), Adam Mungovan, Bruce Piggott (0-1)
Subs: Luke Queally, Niall Glynn, Daniel Kelly, Tony Butler, Niall O’Reagan

Referee: Jim Lees (Tipperary)